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The Ivy Lee Method Is a 100-Year-Old Productivity Secret

October 3, 2016

Written byJoanie Faletto

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These days, it seems like everyone has a new productivity secret. Download this app! Buy this planner! Try this mindfulness trick! But sometimes, it's worth looking to the old standbys. The Ivy Lee Method is 100 years old, and modern go-getters still swear by it today.

Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is

Procrastination is a stranger to no one, something that a man named Ivy Lee knew quite well. In 1918, Lee, who was a productivity consultant and is regarded as a pioneer in public relations, had a meeting with Charles Schwab, who was one of the richest men in the world at the time.

Schwab was looking to up the efficiency of his team. Lee gave Schwab his five-step method, and told Schwab to pay him what he thinks he deserves after three months of his method in action. Ninety days later, Schwab paid Lee the equivalent of $400,000 in today's dollars.